Monday, November 23, 2009

The Eleventh Eagle

Art and I made a day trip up to Hasty Brook on Saturday. Within two miles of our house in the Twin Cities I saw three Bald eagles and five Red-tailed Hawks. It promised to be a good day. By the end of the trip up I'd lost track of the Red-tailed Hawks, there were so many along the highway. This is a picture of the eleventh Bald Eagle. I spotted him on the ground about a half mile south of Hasty. I wonder what brought this enormous eagle down to sit in a pasture. There were several crows circling above but there was also a road-kill dear carcass nearby. As big as they look in the sky, this one looked enormous sitting in the grass. I used the truck as a blind, exiting the passenger side away from the eagle. As I crept around the front of the truck I was able to take many (about 50) photos of the eagle. This was the best. Later in the day as I was walking along the creek side back at Hasty I heard a pair of Ravens croaking above me. As I looked up I saw them harassing my twelfth Bald Eagle of the day. Not bad.
We didn't see any of the Wild Turkeys on Saturday- not even tracks. I wonder if all the deer hunting has them laying low. It was a pretty chilly day but Art ran a propane heater upstairs and with the ceiling insulated it was really quite cozy. The plumber had been out and the shower, toilet, sink/vanity and electric water heater are installed. I can't wait until we can get the electricity hooked up to everything in the spring. (Hear that Richard?) :)
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35 comments:

LauraHinNJ said...

Fabulous photo, Lynne!

It's pretty special to see that many eagles in one day!

Ruth's Photo Blog said...

Gorgeous.What a special treat to see so many eagles in one day.
Blessings,Ruth

Kerri Farley said...

Fabulous shot...I would love to see one of these lovely creatures!

Deb said...

I always treat an eagle sighting as something special! Nice photo.

Susan Gets Native said...

Even in Minnesota, you can still get jazzed about eagles. That RAWKS.

Linda in Erie said...

How awesome! Twelve! I'm expecting to start seeing hawks on my yard fence pretty soon waiting for the little birds,easy winter meals. That is a really good photo of the eagle!

Dawn Fine said...

Excellent Hawk and Eagle day..wow.
Glad Hasty brook is coming along smoothly..

Beth said...

Great picture Lynnie. I think that many eagles in one day is a good omen. Good things to come!

Eve said...

What a beautiful photo Lynne! I will really miss the Ravens now that I'm in the south. I know it's very hard to wait for the things you look forward to but you will be so happy when you finally get to move in!

Richard said...

Don't think you are ready for me yet. Do you have all the framing done upstairs?

NCmountainwoman said...

Now think about it, Lynne. If you were a turkey would you make yourself visible this near Thanksgiving?

Fantastic photograph. I don't think I've ever seen a sitting Eagle in the wild.

I just love hearing about Hasty Brook.

Lynne at Hasty Brook said...

Laura- Thank you. I still get a thrill seeing just one eagle.

Ruth- It IS a special trat!

Kerri- Come on up! I rarly make a visit to Hasty Brook without seeing at least one Bald Eagle.

Deb- I refuse to let myself get used to seeing them. We're lucky here in this part of the country.

Susan- I DO get jazzed!

Linda- Thank you. That photo was really the ONLY sharp one out of about fifty. I though I was being so clever using the truck as a blind. What I didn't realize was that in leaning against the truck, I was picking up the vibrations of the truck engine causing ALL of the photos to blur!! Fortunately I got this one without the blur. Lesson learned!

Dawn- It was Lynne and Art's Excelent Raptor Day!

Beth- Good things are coming. I can feel it in my BONES!

Eve- I'd miss the ravens too but you've shared so much of the beauty in your new home. I'll greet the ravens for you!

Richard- No framing yet. We're still trying to figure out to do with that doorway to the bedroom. The electrical inspector hasn't been out to inspect the box yet either.

Carolyn- Art suspects that at least a few of the turkeys will be served up on someone's table on Thursday.

Carolyn H said...

It's very cool to see that many eagles. They are moving south and looking for open water, no doubt. It will be another month before I am likely to find so many sitting around. Though I did have 25 migrating one day on the hawkwatch this fall. That was pretty exciting.

Carolyn h.

jalynn01 said...

It so nice to see an Eagle sitting on the ground, usually they are far up in a tree and far off! Glad you had a good 'eagle' day. I bet you are so anxious to get everything working and up and running.... here that Richard? haha

Tina said...

Gee, it must be really exciting to visit Hasty Brook now..with all that is going on..how wonderful for you and Art!! I can't even imagine seeing three eagles let alone 11! You lucky girl..so glad all is going well for you guys! Do have a great Thanksgiving! ;-)

ivars krafts said...

Great Eagle shot. I can hear the excitement in your voice as your project progresses.

Jayne said...

WOW! TWELVE??? He's just beautiful Lynne. :c)

How exciting that things continue to move along at Hasty Brook. Can't wait to see the view this spring.

Kelly said...

...beautiful, beautiful photo of the eagle. I saw two a couple of weeks ago in Cincy flying free in the sky about 30 minutes north of my house. Those were the first two....ever....I've seen flying in Cincy. It's so exciting to witness their comeback! They are now nesting in our area, and that is such a wonderful feeling.
Happy Thanksgiving!

Sara said...

Lynne,
Congratulations on building your place at beautiful Hasty Brook. How wonderful for you and your family.
Best wishes !
Sara

troutbirder said...

Glad to see your post and a great picture at that. I never get over the thill of each and every sighting. And now that we have them living in our lakesless county, 60 miles from the Big River and nesting less than a couple of blocks away from our house.... well its eagle heaven!

Mary said...

What a bird. I love that shot.

Also, I realize how excited you must be, Linne, to see plumbing at your Hasty Brook retreat and electric in the spring? Until then, propane and sleeping bags, right? Very nice, very cool.

Hugs,
May

Ruth said...

I usually see our eagles in trees along the river in the winter (It is a good day if I see one!) However, they sometimes sit in farm fields, especially ones with manure piles. Somehow I think it looks undignified for an eagle, but there must be food there. Nice picture!
HAppy Thanksgiving to you.

Pablo said...

It is odd, but I've seen bald eagles out in the middle of fields too.

Do you really have ravens up there in Minnesota? I didn't think they were that far west.

RuthieJ said...

Awesome eagle picture Lynne!

I was sitting in my deer stand the other day and saw this big shadow fly past....when I looked over to where it had come from, I saw one of the bald eagles that lives down there soaring above the white pines over the river. It was magical!

Nina @Nature Remains said...

Wow, wow, wow.
Like you say, their size so impressive on the ground.
Nice shot.

Anonymous said...

That's just awesome!!

dguzman said...

Oh, Lynne--feels like forever since I saw a Baldie. Thanks for the great pic!

Anonymous said...

Only two for me this year, but that is one more than last year!

Leedra said...

Awesome capture. The light is great, love the glint in the eye. I can't even imagine 12 in one day. Don't think I have seen 12 in my lifetime.

Anonymous said...

Amazing you could get this close without it flying away! I've only been able to adequately photograph one bald eagle this year. Great job!

Kathie Brown said...

Lynne, it all sounds so wonderful and what fun to see all those eagles! I know I saw hundreds on the ground around the Great Salt Lake when I lived in Utah and it struck me as so funny to see such a magnificent bird of prey walking around on the ground like a dumb chicken!

Vickie said...

What a grand day for viewing wintering raptors! Love your image and all the observations. Crows and other mobbing birds are a great way to spot the king birds.

Janice K said...

Wow! How special!

Larry said...

Hly smokes-I have a few eagles in my area but was never able to capture a photo as nice as that! Maybe I need to learn how to pish an eagle.

Montanagirl said...

Beautiful photo of the Bald Eagle! They're starting to show up around here now too.